Flexible coupling



Aug.12,1941.` 4. N. WOLFRAM' 2,425,662

' FLEXIBLE comune Filed Nov. 21, 1944 wzl/46A@ f @amm Patented Aug. 1,2, 1947 FLEXIBLE COUPLING John N. Wolfram, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to- The Parker 4Appliance Company, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Cleveland,

Application November 21, 1944, Serial No. "564,461

` 4 claims. (c1. 285-90) The present invention relates generally to tube couplings and more particularly to improvements in couplings for flexibly clamping the end of a metal tube.

An important object of the invention is to provide a flexible coupling for tubes including threadedly engaged body and nut members defining therebetween an annular chamber for deformable packing members, with inner and outer metal sleeves surrounding the tube for housing the packing members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling oi the above character wherein a pair of packing members are employed, one of which is maintained out of contact with the tube and the other is deformed thereagainst upon relative movement of the packing members toward one another to provide an effective seal and floating connection for the tube.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a coupling of the above character wherein damage to the packing members, due to pull out strains imposedon the tube, is prevented by engagement of the tube with one or the other of the sleeves.

The above andv other objects of the invention will .in part be obvious andwill be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal view `in section, showing the coupling with the tube inserted before the coupling members have been tightened relative to one another.

Figure 2 is a similar view in section, showing the flexible coupling after the coupling members have been tightened relative to one another.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the new and improved ilexible coupling is generally designated by the reference numeral 5 and includes a body member E, and nut l which threadedly engage one anothenas at t. The body member is provided with the threaded portion t for engagement with a member, not shown, with which the tube is to be connected.` The body member t is formed with a central bore l0, and an annular recess II and is further formed with a counterbore I2 in communication'with the annular recess Il I.

A metal tube I3 having a central bore I4 of substantially the same diameter'as the Vbore IIJ is adapted to be disposed within the counterbore I2, the tube I3 being of the type in which the inner end is enlarged by the formation of a flared end l5. It is, of course, to be understood that a bead or any other type of enlargement can be formed on the tube within the meaning of the present invention,

The nut I is formed with an inwardly directed shoulder I6, and said nut when threadedly engaged with the body member E, defines therebe tween an annular chamber Il for receiving the flexible clamping' elements. Closely surrounding the tube I3 within the region of the flared end l5 there is a metal sleeve I8 provided with an annular flange I9, said sleeve adapted to have positioned thereon a deformable packing ring 20 of rubber or similar material. The sleeve il] is substantially L-shaped in cross section and the packing ring 2li is disposed thereon so as to closely engage the flange I9 as Well as the body of the sleeve, as is clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. l

Surrounding the tube I3 and disposed on the other side of the sleeve flange i9 is a second packing member 2 l y ofrubber or similar material, and it will be noted from Figure l of the drawing that the packing member 2i differs in shape and size from the packing ring 20. In the formation of the member 2l its corners are preferably cut away as indicated at 22 and 23 so that when it is deformed by tightening of the nut 'l on the body member t, the material can be deformed without damage thereto caused by pinching or the like. The manner in which packing member 2l is deformed upon tightening of the nut is shown in Figure 2 wherein it has assumed asubstantially rectangular shape. y

Also disposed within the annular chamber and substantially surrounding the packing members 2t and 2 I, is a second metal sleeve ill formed with an inwardly extending annular iiange 25 which is adapted to engage the inner end of the body member 6 when the parts are initially assembled as shown in Figure 1. The side of the sleeve 2d opn posite the flange 25 is normally spaced from the y shoulder I6 in this position; Provision of the sleeve 24 substantially houses the packing lring 2t since it is conned between the flanges i@ and 25, and likewise the packingmember 2l is conned between the iiange I9 and the sleeve 24 on two sides and between the shoulder I6 and tube I 3 on its other two sides.

The position of the tube I3 and the coupling members before the coupling members are tightened relative to one another is shown in Figure 1. In this position the flared end I5 of the tube I3 has been inserted within the counterbore I2 with the sleeves and packing members in position thereon. When the nut 'I is tightened on the body member G both packing members will be 3 subjected to a radial squeeze, there being but slight deformationlof the packing ring 20, while the packing member 2| will be deformed to a degree sufficient to fill the spacein the annular chamber I 1 created by the cut-away portions 22 and 23 of said packing member. 'I'his is clearly shown in Figure 2. However, the packing member f 2i is so shaped as to prevent excessive pinching `and extrusion when the coupling members are tightened. When the coupling members are finally tightened, the parts will assume the pqsitions shown in Figure 2.

The new and improved coupling including the pair of deformable packing members, and pair of sleeves, provides for a metal to metal seal between the outer. sleeve 24 and body member 6, and a rubber seal between the inner andouter sleeves I8 and 24 and the tube I3. sleeve I B closely surrounding the tube minimizes wear at 26 when the tube is exed, and this flexing of the tube is permitted due to its contact with the exible packing member 2|. Damage to the packing member 2| caused by severe pull out strains imposed on the tube will be prevented by engagement of the flared end I5 with the inwardlydirected flange 25 of the outer sleeve 24. Any assembly stress on either or both of the packing members will be limited by the positive engagement of the nut shoulder I6 with the sleeve 24 at 2l. The metal tube I3 is' thus securely coupled while being permitted to vibrate orflex slightly in its rubber mounting without causing undue strain on the tube itself or on the coupling parts.

It is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details and construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible coupling for ,tubes comprising a pair of relatively movable coupling members threadedly engaging one another and defining therebetween an annular chamber, a pair of deformable packing members surrounding the tube and positioned within said annular chamber, an

The inner threadedly engaging one another and defining therebetween an annular chamber, a sleeve mounted on the tube adjacent the inner end thereof and having an outwardly projecting flange, a pair of deformable packing members surrounding the tube and held in spaced relation by the flange on said sleeve and a' second sleeve surrounding said first sleeve and deformable packing members, said sleeves being spaced from each other whereby said tube is supported in said coupling by said deformable packing members.

3. A flexible coupling for tubes comprising a pair of relatively movable coupling members threadedly engaging one another and vdefining therebetween an annular chamber, a sleeve mountedon the tube adjacent the inner end thereof and having an outwardly projecting flange, a pair of deformable 'packing members surrounding the tube, one of said packing members being maintained out of contact with the tube by said sleeve, the flange on said sleeve serving to separate said deformable packing members and a second sleeve surrounding said first sleeve and packing members, said sleeves being spaced from each otherwhereby said tube-is supported in said coupling by said deformable packing members.

4. A flexible coupling for tubes comprising a pair of relatively movable coupling members threadedly engaging one another and defining therebetween an annular chamber,- a sleeve mounted on the tube in the region of the inner end thereof, an annular flange on said sleeve extending outwardly of the tube, a deformable packing mem-ber positioned on said sleeve and in contact with one side of said flange, a second deformable packing member surrounding the tube and in contact with the other side of said flange, and

, a second sleeve surrounding said first sleeve and inner sleeve surrounding said tube and contactpacking members and having a flange extending inwardly toward the tube and in bearing engagement withy the first packing member.

JOHN N. WOLFRAM.

' file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Parker July 25, 1944 

